Locking mechanism for casket table



Nov. 3, 1964 c. L. HANSELMAN LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CASKET TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

C4070 4. Hfi/VSA'LMAA/ W? A Trek/VI):

1964 c. L. HANSELMAN 3,155,417

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CASKET TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

CL 0 Ya I Hfi/V8A'4M4lv BY 04m Nov. 3, 1964 c. L. HANSELMAN 3,155,417

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CASKET TABLE Filed Feb. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 C2070 Z. f/R/VOELMAA/ NOV. 1964 c. L. HANSELMAN 3,

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CASKET TABLE Filed Feb. 5, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 iii-5E 92 INVENTOR. 4 czaro 4. HAIL/3A2 Mn/v ATTOR VAYS United States Patent "ice 3,155,417 LGCKING MECHANISM FOR CASKET TABLE Cloyd L. Hansehnan, Piqua, Ohio, assignor to Divco- Wayne Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Michigan Filed Feb. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 171,299 8 Claims. (Cl. 296-46) This invention relates generally to a locking mechanism and refers more particularly to a locking mechanism for the casket table of a side delivery type hearse.

In a hearse of the side delivery type described herein, the casket table is guided by tracks for movement from a neutral position within the hearse to a transverse position extending through either side door opening for loading and unloading, and a locking mechanism is provided having members or locking arms which normally assume a closed position closing the tracks to hold the table in neutral position. The locking arms are individually movable to an open position opening the associated track to release the table for movement along the opened track through one side opening of the hearse or the other. After the table has been loaded or unloaded, the table is reversed and returned to its neutral position whereupon the opened locking arm is closed locking the table again in its neutral position.

This arrangement is subject to certain human failures. For example, the operator may inadvertently close the opened locking arm before the table has returned to full neutral position. In this instance, the table would not be locked or secured in neutral, and would therefore be free to move when the vehicle is started, driven or stopped. Moreover, it is possible for the operator thereafter to open the other locking arm and apply power to move the table from its neutral position, in which event the table instead of moving outward past the opened arm, would travel in the opposite direction and attempt to go through the closed door.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism which is not subject to the failures referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism having a member movable from a closed position in which it is adapted to engage the table and hold it in neutral position to an open position releasing the table for movement to an extended position, and including means responsive to initial movement of the table from neutral position to lock the member in open position.

Another object is to provide means responsive to the initial movement of the table from neutral position to lock the member in open position and responsive to final movement of the table toward neutral position to release the member.

Another object is to provide a locking mechanism having means for holding one of the locking members closed during the time the other is open.

Another object is to provide means responsive to the opening of one of the locking members for holding the other closed, thereby to permit only one locking member to be opened at a time.

Another object is to provide a locking mechanism having a pair of locking arms mounted on a common pivot and respectively associated with a pair of guide tracks,

Patented Nov. 3, 1964 the locking arms normally assuming a closed position to hold the table in neutral position and being individually swingable to an open position releasing the table for movement through one of the side openings of the vehicle, manually operable levers for operating the arms, safety means comprising a detent engageable with the levers to lock them in open position after they have been operated, and means on the table for rendering the safety means inoperative in the neutral position of the table.

Another object is to provide a locking mechanism wherein the levers have slots and the arms have projections engaged in the slots for the movement of the arms by the levers, and the detent includes a bar and pins carried by the bar respectively engageable in the slots.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a semi-diagrammatic fragmentary plan view illustrating the rear end portion of a hearse, and a casket table within the hearse shown in solid lines in its neutral position and in dotted lines in a transverse position extending laterally through a side opening of the hearse.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view of the locking mechanism shown in FIGURE 1, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but shows the parts in another position.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the'line 7--7 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a detail view illustrating the arms of the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary detail view of the track associated with the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 10 is a detail view of one of the operating levers.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to FIGURE 1, the rear end portion of a hearse re is shown in phantom lines having an elongated casket table 12 therein. A support 14 for the casket table is provided which may include a plurality of anti-friction rollers, two of which are indicated at 16. The casket table 12 is shown in solid lines in its neutral position in which it is longitudinally aligned with the hearse 10, and in dotted lines in an extended position in which it is disposed transversely and extends outward through a side opening of the vehicle. It will be understood that the casket table can also assume the opposite transverse extended position in which it extends outward through an opening in the opposite side of the hearse.

The table has on its underside and near its rear end a vertical pivot 18 secured to a carriage 2%). The carriage 20 is supported for longitudinal movement from the rear position illustrated in FIGURE 1, in which it engages a fixed stop 22, to a forward position in which the pivot assumes the right hand position indicated at 18 in FIG- URE l. The casket table 12 also has an intermediate 3 follower 24 land a front follower 26, the followers 24 and 26 and pivot 18 lying on the longitudinal center line of the table.

The carriage 2% is guided in its longitudinal movement by the tracks 28 which extend longitudinally of the hearse, the carriage having suitable antifriction guide rollers 39. The follower 24 is adapted to move into either one or the other of the branch tracks 32, 34 which extend from the tracks 28 laterally outwardly toward either side of the hearse in the form of a Y.

FIGURE 1 shows the intermediate follower at the extreme end of the branch track 32 when the casket table is moved outward through the left side of the hearse. In this position the follower is indicated at 24'. It will be understood that when the casket table is projected through the right hand side opening of the hearse, the follower 24 will assume a corresponding position at the extreme outermost end of track 34.

A locking mechanism or device 36 is provided for locking the casket table 12 in the neutral position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1, with carriage 2t) abutting the fixed rear stop 22. Referring more particularly to FIG- URE 2,. the locking device includes a pair of locking arms 38 and 4%? which are pivoted near one end on a common pivot pin 42 disposed at the front end of the table. The locking arms 38 and 4t) normally diverge rearwardly from the pivot 42 in the form of a V. The front follower 26 of the table, when the table is in neutral position, is confined on opposite sides by the arms 38 and 40 so that the table is locked against the rear stop 22 in its neutral position.

The pivot pin 42 is secured at its lower end to a base plate 44. As shown in FIGURE 7, a nut 46 threaded on the lower end of pin 42 secures it to the base plate.

Associated with the locking device is a control track member 48 which, as shown in FIGURES 2, 4 and 9, has a central plate portion 50 and tracks 52 and 54- extending from the plate portion toward either side of the hearse in a forward direction and in diverging relation to each other. Spacers 56 secured to the underside of the track sections 52 and -4 space the track member 48 above the base plate 44, and nut and bolt assemblies 58 extend through the spacers and rigidly secure the track member to the base plate. Another spacer 6t? secured to the underside of the track member 48 is provided, through which the pivot-pin42 extends, and it will be noted in FIGURE 7 that the pin 42 is formed to provide a shoulder 62 which bears upon the upper surface of the plate portion Sil'of the track member 48. I

The locking arms 38 and 4d are shown in FIGURE 2 in their normal closed positions, extending across the associated tracks 52 and 54 and engaging the front follower 26, to lock the table in neutral position. FIGURE 4 illustrates the locking arm 4h in open position permitting the front follower 26 to move into track section 54, thereby releasing the table for movement to its extended position through the right hand side opening of the vehicle.

Suitable levers 6t: and 68 are provided to individually move the locking arms to open position. The levers are pivoted to base plate 44 by the .pivot pins "itl and, as seen in FIGURE 6, are disposed between the base plate and the control track member 48. As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the locking arms 38 and 40 have followers '71 and '72 near their free ends which extend downwardly through the arcuate slots 74 and 76 in the plate portion of the control track member 43. The slots 74 and 76 are of a length and curvature to clear the followers 71 and 72 throughout the pivotal movements of the locking arms between open and closed positions.

The followers 71 and 72 are in the form of headed fasteners '78 (FlG. 7). Sleeves 86 on the shanks of the fasteners'move in L-shaped slots 82 and 84 in the inner ends of levers 66 and 68, and are held in place on the shanks by the disc portions 86 of the fasteners on one side of the levers and washers 88 and nuts 89 on the other 4: side. The sleeves 8t) prevent the disc portions 36 and washers 88 from clamping on the levers so that the followers can move freely in the L-shaped slot-s. Base plate 44 has clearances hit so as not to interfere with the movement of followers 71 and 72.

Slots 82 and 84 in the lever arms are L-shaped to permit the swinging movement of both the levers and the locking arms about their respective pivots. Referring to FIG- URES 2, 4 and 10, the followers will be seen to be in the front portions 92 of the slots in the closed position of the locking arms, and in the offset portions 94 in the open position thereof.

The lever arms 66 and 68 are operated through suitable linkages by the handles 94 (FIG. 1). As shown, the handles are secured to shafts 96 which are journaled for rotation in the body of the hearse, and cranks 98 on the inner ends of the shafts are connected to rods 100. The rods are connected to the outer ends of the levers by couplings 102. Rotation in one direction of the handle on the right side of the hearse will move the corresponding lever 68 to the position of FIGURE 2, and rotation of the handle in the opposite direction will move the lever to the position of FIGURE 4. Lever 66 is moved in the same way by the other handle. The position of the locking arm is of course determined by the movement of the associated lever.

When it is desired to move the casket table outward through one side of the hearse, for example the left side, the handle 94 on the left side of the hearse is operated to shift the corresponding control rod 100 to the rear, thereby rotating lever 66 in a direction to open the locking arm 38. Thereafter, when power, either manual or otherwise, is applied, the table 12 will move in a forward direction and its front end will be guided toward the left side of the hearse by the follower 26 which now moves into the control track section 52. At the same time, the intermediate follower 24 moves into the branch track 32 and, after the front follower 26 leaves track section 52, the further movement of the table from neutral position is controlled by the roller 24 in branch track 32. The table is shown in its loading or unloading position in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, projecting through the left side of the hearse.

Upon the application of reverse power, the table will follow the same path in reverse until it reaches its neutral position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1, determined by the engagement of carriage 20 with stop 22. Thereupon, the left handle 94 may again be manipulated to close the opened locking arm and again center the follower 26 as in FIGURE 2, locking the table securely against the fixed stop 22.

In the event it is desired to load or unload from the right side, the handle 94 on the right side of the hearse will be operated to shift the lever 68 to the FIGURE 4 position, thereby moving the locking arm 40 to open position permitting the front follower 26 to move into the right hand control track 54. The procedure for the return of the table to neutral position will of course be the same as described above.

A safety mechanism in the form of a detent is mounted on the base plate 44. The detent includes a bar 112 underneath the base plate which slides vertically on pins 114. The pins extend freely through apertures in the bar and are secured to the base plate as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. Coil springs 116 encircle the pins and bear against the heads of the pins and the underside of the bar to urge it in an upward direction against the base plate.

The bar 112 carries a pair of pins 118 which extend above the bar and, in the position shown in FIGURE 5, project above the base plate 44 through the clearances 90 therein. The pins 118 are located so as to register with the forward portions 92 of the L-shaped slots in the respective levers, when the levers are in the position of arm 68 in FIGURE 4. In other words, when a lever arm is moved to the position of arm 68 in FIGURE 4, the associated pin 118 will move into the forward portion 92 of the L-shaped slot, preventing the lever from returning to its FIGURE 2 position in which it closes the lock arm. Accordingly, the lock arm cannot thereafter be closed until the detent 110 is lowered to withdraw the pin 118.

Referring to FIGURES 2-5, it will be seen that the bar 112 has a central rod 120 which projects upward through the plate portion 50 of the control track member 48, through guide 122 and spacer 124 carried above and below the plate portion 50. The rod 120 is slidable vertically in the guide 122 and spacer 124 and has a broad head 126 on the upper end. When the table 12 is in neutral position, a pad 128 on its underside is inv position to overlie and engage the head 126 depressing the detent 110 to the FIGURE 3 position in which the pins 118 are withdrawn beneath the level of the levers 66 and 68. Upon initial movement of the table from neutral position, the pad 128 moves off the head 126 of the rod to release the detent, allowing it to return to the FIGURE 5 position in which the pins 118 project above the base plate so that their upper ends can engage in the L-shaped slots of the levers.

Referring to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the locking arm 38 has a single central projecting tongue 130 pivoted on the pin 42, and locking arm 40 has a pair of spaced tongues 132 straddling the tongue 130 and likewise pivoted on pin 42. Projecting from each of the tongues of the locking arms is a lug, the lug on the tongue 130 being indicated at 134 and the lugs on the tongues 132 being indicated at 136. These lugs are such that when one locking arm is moved to its open position, its lug or lugs engage the back of the other locking arm to prevent it from opening. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 4, when the locking arm 40 is opened its lugs 136 engage the back of the locking arm 38 to prevent it from opening. When the locking arm 38 is opened, its lug 134 engages the back of locking arm 40' to prevent it from opening. According to this arrangement only one locking arm can be opened at a time.

In the operation of the mechanism, and assuming the table to be in the neutral position shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the pad 128 on the table engages the head 126 of rod 120 to depress the detent 110. If lever 68 is operated as in FIGURE 4 to open locking arm 38, the front end of the table will be guided to the right by follower 26 when power is applied. The pad 128 will move otf the head 126 of rod 129, releasing the detent 110 so that it springs up to its FIGURE 5 position. One of the pins 118 will extend into the forward portion 2 of the L-shaped slot in the operated lever 68 to prevent it from being returned to its normal position. Accordingly, the open locking arm cannot be closed until the table is returned to neutral.

Upon return of the table to neutral position, pad 128 re-engages the head 126 of the pin 120 (FIG. 3), again depressing the detent 110 to release the lever. The pad is bevelled at the sides and the head 126 is rounded so that the pad can move readily over and depress pin 12%. When the table has thus returned to neutral, the operator can manually operate the lever 68 by means of the corresponding handle 94 to again center the forward follower 26 and lock the table in the neutral position. During the time that one locking arm is open, the other is held closed by the engagement of the lug or lugs of the open locking arm with the back of the closed locking arm.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a hearse of the side delivery type having a casket table movable relative to a support, guide means cooperable with the table to guide it from a neutral position disposed generally longitudinally within the hearse to either of two transverse extended positions, said guide means including diverging tracks, said table having a follower positioned to move along and be guided by one or the other of said tracks to control the movement of said table toward either extended position; a locking device including arms on a common pivot respectively associated with said tracks which arms normally assume closed positions engaging said follower to hold the table in neutral position, said arms being individually swingable to an open position opening the associated track to release said follower for movement along the open track permitting movement of the table to one of its extended positions, levers operatively connected to said arms and movable to swing said arms, and safety means responsive to initial movement of the table from neutral position to lock the opened arm in open position and responsive to final movement of the table toward neutral position to release the opened arm, said safety means comprising a detent engageable with a lever that has been moved to open the arm to which it is operatively connected, and means on said table rendering said detent inoperative in the neutral position of said table.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein each arm has means thereon engageable in its open position with the other arm to hold the latter closed, thereby to permit only one arm to be open at a time.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said detent is spring urged .to an operative position engageable with said levers.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein said detent includes a bar and pins carried by said bar respectively engageable in slots in said levers.

5. The structure defined in claim 3, wherein said levers have slots and said arms have projections engaged in said slots for the movement of said arms by said levers, and said detent includes a bar and pins carried by said bar respectively engageable in said slots.

6. In a hearse of the side delivery type having a casket table movable relative to a support, guide means cooperable with the table to guide it from a neutral position disposed generally longitudinally within the hearse to either of two transverse extended positions, said guide means including diverging tracks, said table having a follower in position to move along and be guided by one or the other of said tracks to control the movement of said table toward either extended position; a locking device including members respectively associated with said tracks which members normally assume closed positions closing said tracks, said members being individually movable to an open position opening the associated track to said follower for movement therealong so as to enable movement of the table to one of its extended positions, detent means operative when actuated to lock the opened member in open position, and means responsive to initial movement of said table from neutral position for actuating said detent means.

7. In a hearse of the side delivery type having a casket table movable relative to a support, guide means cooperable with the table to guide it from a neutral position disposed generally longitudinally within the hearse to either of two transverse extended positions, said guide means including diverging tracks, said table having a follower positioned to move along and be guided by one or the other of said tracks to control the movement of said table toward either extended position; a locking device including members respectively associated with said tracks which members normally assume closed positions closing said tracks and engaging said follower to hold the table in neutral position, said members being individually movable to an open position opening the associated track to release said follower for movement along the opened track permitting movement of the table to one of its extended positions, detent means shiftable from an inoperative to an operative position, in the operative position said detent means being effective to lock said member in open position and in the inoperative position said detent means being effective to release said member, and means responsive to the initial movement of said table a from neutral position for shifting said detent means to operative position and responsive to final movement of the table toward neutral position for shifting said detent means to inoperative position.

8. In a hearse of the side delivery type having a casket table movable relative to a support, guide means cooperable with the table to guide it from a neutral position disposed generally longitudinally within the hearse to either of two transverse extended positions, said guide means including diverging tracks, said table having a 1 follower positioned to move along and be guided by one or the other of said tracks to control the movement of said table toward either extended position; a locking device including arms swingable on a common pivot and respectively associated with said tracks, said arms nor- 15 maliy assuming closed positions closing said tracks and engaging said follower to hold the table in neutral position, said arms being individually swingable to an open position opening the associated track to said follower for movement along the opened track permitting movement of the table to one of its extended positions, each arm having means thereon engageable in its open position with the other arm to hold the latter closed, thereby to permit only one arm to be open at a time.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A HEARSE OF THE SIDE DELIVERY TYPE HAVING A CASKET TABLE MOVABLE RELATIVE TO A SUPPORT, GUIDE MEANS COOPERABLE WITH THE TABLE TO GUIDE IT FROM A NEUTRAL POSITION DISPOSED GENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY WITHIN THE HEARSE TO EITHER OF TWO TRANSVERSE EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING DIVERGING TRACKS, SAID TABLE HAVING A FOLLOWER POSITIONED TO MOVE ALONG AND BE GUIDED BY ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID TRACKS TO CONTROL THE MOVEMENT OF SAID TABLE TOWARD EITHER EXTENDED POSITION; A LOCKING DEVICE INCLUDING ARMS ON A COMMON PIVOT RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID TRACKS WHICH ARMS NORMALLY ASSUME CLOSED POSITIONS ENGAGING SAID FOLLOWER TO HOLD THE TABLE IN NEUTRAL POSITION, SAID ARMS BEING INDIVIDUALLY SWINGABLE TO AN OPEN POSITION OPENING THE ASSOCIATED TRACK TO RELEASE SAID FOLLOWER FOR MOVEMENT ALONG THE OPEN TRACK PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF THE TABLE TO ONE OF ITS EXTENDED POSITIONS, LEVERS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ARMS AND MOVABLE TO SWING SAID ARMS, AND SAFETY MEANS RESPONSIVE TO INITIAL MOVEMENT OF THE TABLE FROM NEUTRAL POSITION TO 